About Linfield

About Linfield

Pre-July 2009 Press Archives

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3/2/2006 Huston Smith to speak at Linfield College

McMINNVILLE -- Huston Smith, one of the world?s foremost religious scholars, will speak on "The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition" Monday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Melrose Auditorium at Linfield College.

Smith is the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and distinguished adjunct professor of philosophy emeritus at Syracuse University. For 15 years he was professor of philosophy at M.I.T. and for a decade before that he taught at Washington University in St. Louis. Most recently he has served as visiting professor of religious studies at the University of California at Berkeley.

Smith holds 12 honorary degrees and is the author of 14 books. "The World?s Religions" has sold over two and a half million copies and "Why Religion Matters" won the Wilbur Award for the best book on religion published in 2001.

In 1996 Bill Moyers devoted a five-part PBS special to his life and work titled "The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith." His film documentaries on Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Sufism have all won international awards. The Journal of Ethnomusicology lauded his discovery of Tibetan multiphonic chanting as "an important landmark in the study of music."

"The Soul of Christianity:Restoring the Great Tradition" is his most personal and passionate book on the spiritual life in which he turns to his own life-long religion, Christianity. With stories and personal anecdotes, Smith not only presents the basic beliefs and essential teachings of Christianity, but argues why religious belief matters in today?s secular world.

"Huston Smith is one of our country?s living treasures; his sage-like wisdom comes along only once or twice in a generation," said William Apel, professor of religion at Linfield who has helped organize the lecture.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Frazee Lecture in Bible and Religion. The Frazee Lecture honors Gordon G. Frazee who served Linfield College for 32 years as chaplain and professor of religion. For more information, call 503-883-2259.